Wilmington, NC News

Archive for February, 2014

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The City of Wilmington is responding ahead of the latest court fight over the hotel at the Wilmington Convention Center.

The city says it has been told an attorney for Glenn Wells, a taxpayer who has been wrangling with the city for years over the deal, will file a show cause motion in New Hanover County Superior Court today about the Convention Center hotel.

In the motion, Wells asks the city to show why it is not in contempt of an August 2006 consent order based on a compromise reached between Wells, his fellow plaintiffs and the city. The deal includes a provision that “(n)o public funds of any nature shall be used to acquire, build, equip, operate or otherwise underwrite or subsidize the Hotel or its operations.”

In his show cause motion, Wells says the city’s sale of property to the hotel’s developer for $578,200 is substantially less than the value of the land appraised last fall for $1.32 million. Wells argues that means “$741,800 in public funds are apparently being used to underwrite or subsidize the Hotel, in violation of the Order.”

In a news release the city says it is limited what it can say about the pending legal matter, but it did issue a statement.

“We are very disappointed to learn about this motion, especially since there has been such overwhelming public support from citizens across our community who want to see this important economic development project completed,” the statement reads. “The city believes very strongly that we are in full compliance with all state laws and the 2006 consent decree and we are confident that the court will rule in our favor.”

Harmony Hospitality plans to build a $33 million Embassy Suites next to the Convention Center. Mayor Bill Saffo has said it could bring in $800,000 a year to the city.

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Almost a third of North Carolina’s counties have received permission from state elections officials to reduce early-voting hours heading into the May 6 primary below what last year’s elections overhaul law demanded of them.

The law is a divisive issue that faces legal challenges. The law actually decreased the number of early-voting days from 17 days to 10 but came with a qualification. Counties would still have to offer at least the same number of cumulative hours for people to vote ahead of election day compared to the 2010 primary.

But more than 30 counties have taken advantage of a little-discussed exemption in the law that allows them to offer fewer hours as long as county and state elections boards approve the change unanimously.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police arrested two men accused of an armed robbery that sent several officers on a search through the Forest Hills neighborhood late last night.

Dispatchers say the first call came in just before 11 p.m., reporting the crime they say happened near the intersection of Colonial Drive and Forest Hills Drive.

Both the Wilmington Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, and police K-9 units also helped in the search for suspects.

The search finally turned up the two suspects, and dispatchers say the duo was arrested by Wilmington Police. There’s no word yet on what the two men got away with, or if anyone was hurt during the crime.